It was cold, dark, and eerily quiet at the wharf. The few lights barely illuminated the docking area. There were no activities. Actually, nothing much moved. Except for a few security personnel, no one else was around.
Although it seemed peaceful, he could never let his guard down. He knew that behind the shadows, in the dimly lit corners, danger was surely lurking, just biding for the perfect time to strike.
"Hmmp!" He could not help but sigh as he sat quietly at the passenger side, just patiently waiting.
After a few more seconds of nothing but the sound of the cold breeze, he grabbed a cigarette pack from the glove compartment, pulling out one stick.
Flicking the lighter on, he lit his cigar and puffed a few clouds of smoke inside the confines of the car.
"If a gunshot doesn't kill you, that thing will." Jacob finally spoke as he sat at the driver's seat, flapping his arms and hands to ward off the smoke from stirring toward him.
"Oh! Shut up, Jacob." Even though he knew his friend had a point. This was not the time to listen to his friend's sermon.
Smoking was bad for his health. But since he took this job, the stress had just been too much. A puff of smoke or a glass of whiskey was the only thing that could help him calm down.
"Ok, fine." His friend accepted defeat and abruptly changed the topic. "Who do you think is behind all this mess, Oliver?" Just like him, his friend's eyes were also on high alert as he scanned their surroundings.
On guard in case somebody decided to ambush them.
"My guess is as good as yours." Honestly, he could think of a few who would want him dead, but without any evidence, he could only speculate.
So far, their investigation had led them to several names. But he thought those people were just pawns in a much bigger game.
"We need a tastier bait and a larger hook if we want to catch the big fish." He wanted the mastermind behind the plot to take him down, not just his minions.
But the traitor had always been one step ahead of him. Nonetheless, whoever he was, his time would eventually come. Once that bastard made a mistake, he would be there to catch up with him.
Jacob just nodded his head, totally agreeing with him. But before any of them could say more, his eyes caught a glimpse of a man in his right, moving stealthily in their direction.
"Hey, two o'clock." He warned his friend of an incoming threat while pulling his gun from its holster.
Jacob immediately took out his gun, too, while they waited for the man to come into clear view. But when the man's face caught the light, he quickly identified him as one of them.
"Don, the two shipments are already secured," Maddox informed him as soon as he stood outside his window. "But the FBI had already surrounded the last one. There was nothing else we could do."
"Fuck! That would still cost us millions." Jacob expressed his dismay at the outcome. "Whoever was behind this, he should pray that we don't find him."
That was a big blow in their operation, but at least they didn't lose everything. But Jacob was right. The last shipment would still cost them a lot of money.
"Instruct our man to move the two shipments to the warehouse. Then, wait for further instructions." He ordered Jacob, who immediately made some phone calls.
"You can return to your post, Maddox. Just update me if there are any further changes." He directed, thinking that there was nothing else they could do at the moment but wait until the situation cooled down.
"Let me see if I can gather some information from our men inside the Bureau," Maddox said before he left and disappeared from where he came from.
A few minutes later, Jacob drove the car back onto the main road, easily maneuvering through the light traffic.
"Where to now, Boss? At the club?" Jacob asked. "I heard that Bryan had some new interesting girls performing tonight."
His friend only called him Boss when the situation required it, but other than that, he was just messing with him. It was his way of rousing a reaction from him.
"No, not tonight." He said. "Just take me home."
That made his friend glance at him before returning his eyes to the road. "Home?" He quizzically asked.
After an operation, just to blow off some steam, they usually stopped by the club. But he just enjoyed a few drinks and the distraction of the loud noise.
But unlike his friend, who enjoyed the company and attention of the girls. He preferred to be left alone.
"I'm tired." He reasoned, closing his eyes for a bit. "And it is my fucking wedding day." He reminded his friend in case he had forgotten.
But truthfully, he had no idea what was going through his mind at that moment. Suddenly, the club didn't appeal to him at all.
"Are you seriously thinking of sleeping with your new wife?" His friend curiously asked. "What if she tries to trap you with a child?" He added, sounding genuinely concerned. "She could turn out to be just like Amelia and Hazel."
The thought had crossed his mind.
"She is my wife." Even though it was just an arrangement. "And I don't mind if we have a child. After all, Caleb needs a brother or a sister."
But was he seriously thinking of getting into bed with this woman? Could he truly trust her even if alarm bells kept ringing inside his head?
"Are you really going to let her use your body and money, and then dump you once she has gotten what she wants from you?" His friend made it sound as if he were a willing victim in her grand scheme of things.
"Will you cut that out?" If anything, it was he who had a plan to use her. Not the other way around.
Anyway, it was a mutual arrangement.
Of course, with their own hidden agendas.
A few more minutes, he entered the main door to his mansion and crossed the foyer. As expected, the party was over. Everyone had already left except for the few staff who were still cleaning the place.
"Welcome home, Sir." Taylor immediately greeted him. "Do you need anything, Sir?" He politely asked.
"I'm just going to bed." He answered, not wishing to disturb the staff anymore.
"As you wish, Sir." He courteously bowed. "Have a good night, Sir." Then, he moved out of his way.
Expecting to see his new wife sleeping on the bed, he was surprised to see his room empty and covered in darkness. Upon close inspection, the bed was still clearly undisturbed.
"Where is she?" It was their wedding night.
Did Taylor make the mistake of letting her sleep in one of the guest rooms? Silently, he walked along the empty hallways, checking each room.
Until he stopped outside his son's bedroom.
Entering his son's room, he immediately noticed the lamp on his nightstand was on and beaming a soft light on two figures on the bed.
"Sophia." He called gently, not wanting to disturb her or his son in case they were already asleep. But only silence greeted him. Then, he crossed the room, stopping only when he stood beside the bed.
"Sophia." He whispered, but she didn't even stir. "You shouldn't be sleeping here." He mumbled.
Then, his mind suddenly questioned him. "And where is she supposed to sleep?"
Before he could answer that question, he picked her up in his arms and carried her slowly back into his room. Then, he slowly lay her on his bed before covering her with the blanket.
"Damn! Why does it feel like she belongs in there?" In his bed.
After removing most of his clothes, leaving just his underwear, he also followed her under the blanket. Then, his eyes just watched her as she slept.
She hardly moved, while her breathing was even. It appeared as if she was very comfortable and at home in her new environment.
Then, as if an invisible string was pulling her toward her, he moved closer until he could feel her body against his and smell her sweet scent.
"Why do you feel like you belong here with me?"
In his arms.